Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Boys and their bodies

A study by Concordia University and the University of Manitoba found that most boys aspire to have an average physique rather than an idealized, lean, or muscular body. The research suggests that boys are critical of unrealistic beauty standards and view sculpted bodies as unnatural.

SourceConcordia University·JournalMen and Masculinities·DateSep 26, 2011

High-tech approach uses lights, action and camera to scrutinize fresh produce

The USDA has developed a cutting-edge optical scanning system that uses two different kinds of lighting and a sophisticated camera to inspect fresh produce items. The system can detect defects and contaminants, such as cuts, bruises, and specks of fertilizer, in a single image.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalSensing and Instrumentation for Food Quality and Safety·DateMay 10, 2011

When the pressure is on, product experts can get facts wrong: UBC study

A recent UBC study reveals that experts with specific product knowledge can make mistakes when relying on their memories to compare products. The researchers found that a feeling of accountability and pressure to give the best recommendations can lead to false recalls, especially in complex goods such as cameras, cars, and computers.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateApr 12, 2011

Northern Mars landscape actively changing

Scientists have found that the sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, contrary to previous assumptions. The changes were caused by seasonal carbon-dioxide ice and stronger-than-expected gusts of wind, resulting in sand avalanches and erosion.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScience·DateFeb 3, 2011

Better than the human eye

Researchers developed a curvilinear camera with adjustable zoom capability inspired by the human eye. The camera combines simplicity and versatility, enabling applications in night-vision surveillance, robotic vision, endoscopic imaging and consumer electronics.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2011

Consistent evidence: Speed cameras do reduce injuries and deaths

A team of researchers found that speed cameras decrease crashes involving injury and fatalities by reducing average speed and speeding violations. The study compiled data from 35 relevant studies, concluding that the cameras are effective in preventing road accidents.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateOct 5, 2010

Your body recycling itself -- captured on film

McGill researchers discovered how cells identify and recycle proteins by capturing an image of the UBR box component. This finding holds promise for understanding and treating Johanson-Blizzard syndrome, a rare disease causing deformations and mental retardation.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateSep 13, 2010

The brain needs to remember faces in 3-dimensions

Researchers investigated familial prosopagnosia, a condition where individuals have trouble recognizing faces. The study found that changes in lighting conditions and viewing angles affected their ability to recognize faces, suggesting an inability to form robust mental representations of faces.

SourceElsevier·JournalCortex·DateSep 9, 2010

An artificial eye on your driving

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed advanced algorithms to enhance camera systems in cars, enabling faster detection of pedestrians and other moving objects. The system can recognize people from other vehicles and create a model that reacts almost instantly, potentially doubling down as a tool for autonomous vehicles.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateApr 20, 2010

Room's ambience fingerprinted by phone

Researchers at Duke University have developed SurroundSense, an app that uses phone features to create a unique fingerprint of a space. The system achieves an average accuracy of 87% when all sensing capabilities are used, allowing it to tell whether a user is in a bar or a Target store.

LRO's first moon images

LRO's LROC cameras have returned the first lunar images since reaching the moon on June 23, capturing cratered regions in the highlands south of Mare Nubium. The images, taken along the terminator line, show a rugged surface with subtle topography exaggeration.